She showed the way of simplicity, kindness and service to others

Our devoted Ammi, Susila Samaranayaka, passed away at the age of 72 on March 14, 1997 after a brief illness, leaving a tremendous void in our lives especially because both our beloved parents passed away within the short span of one year. If she were living, June 10 would have been her 94th birthday.

Ammi was indeed the embodiment of love, kindness, simplicity and generosity. She was a true practising Buddhist and her prime aim was service to the less fortunate to which she devoted over 45 years of her life. Her sphere of involvement spanned a multitude of organisations and activities.

As a young mother she responded to a notice in the “Daily News” and volunteered at the Ceylon Red Cross Society. The activities of the society at that time included visiting homes of the needy, providing tea to patients seeking treatment at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital and orthopaedic clinic and providing a library service for patients at the Colombo General Hospital. In all these Ammi was a willing worker. My sister and I had our introduction to social service work as youngsters, as we often spent Saturday mornings with Ammi, doing work for the Red Cross.

The Lanka Mahila Samithi, an association geared to improve the lot of rural women attracted Ammi’s attention. Under the guidance of eminent ladies like Mrs. F. B. De Mel and Mrs. Violet Rajapakse she often travelled to rural areas and taught women the basics of hygiene, cooking and house-keeping. Once again, we joined Ammi at weekends.

She was also influenced by Mrs. C. H. Gunasekera. I recall vividly the first time that we all visited the Vihara Maha Devi Home for Girls, maintained by the All Ceylon Buddhist Congress at Biyagama with Mrs. Gunasekera on a Saturday morning nearly 40 years ago. The children thought that we were two new recruits to their ranks! That visit culminated in a lifelong commitment of service to the Home. Initially as honorary secretary and later as president, she served the Vihara Maha Devi Home for over three decades.

In all these institutions, Ammi was not a nominal holder of office. She was a mother to all the children numbering nearly 150. With the help of dedicated staff, she saw to their complete development both physically and spiritually. She knew each and every child by name. The Vihara Maha Devi Home came to be known as one of the best run children’s homes in the country. She took great pains to organize annual events like the prize distribution, pirith ceremony and the new year celebrations bringing much joy to the lives of the girls. Her concern extended to obtaining employment and even organizing their weddings, thus becoming a kind of grandmother as well to their offspring.

Whenever possible, she took us there with her and the girls clamoured to get their turn to spend school vacations in our home.

Ammi had a long association with the Mallika Niwasa Samithiya, serving as President too of this organization which manages the Mallika Home for Elderly Ladies, the Sneha Home for Infants in Bambalapitiya and the Parakrama Home for boys in Kandana. She was a special friend of the elderly ladies living at the Mallika Home for the Elderly, visiting them almost daily, during her period as president.

She played a prominent role in arranging foster parent schemes for the children and obtained substantial financial support from overseas, especially from Australia, to supplement the State grants and public donations.

As a vice-president of the All Ceylon Buddhist Women’s Congress she concentrated on the Sandya Home for the elderly arranging picnics, magic shows, pilgrimages etc. One of her last acts was a programme to commemorate “Elders’ Week” which ended with a pilgrimage to Attanagalla Raja Maha Vihare.

Believing firmly in giving responsibility to younger persons she handed over her work in time to those she thought were capable and dedicated workers.

In spite of all her activities outside, Ammi was foremost a dutiful wife and loving and caring mother who was always at home when needed. She received enormous encouragement from Thaththi. She looked after her mother and her mother-inlaw who lived in our home for many years both receiving her love, care and attention in equal measure.

She was a live wire at social gatherings of friends and relations - always eager for a singsong and laughter.

I admired Ammi for the common sense she possessed. She often asked me about interesting and difficult patients I had and rejoiced with me when difficult clinical problems were sorted out and patients recovered.

Kindness and generosity were shown without reservation to all. Her care covered her extended family, her girls and elderly ladies, and anyone else in need and even animals. A keen animal lover, Ammi was a member of Gal Gava Mithuro - Friends of the Cart Bull. Many a time she would get Thaththi to stop the car when we were travelling so that she could plead with a carter to give water to a bull foaming from the mouth. She readily found places for aged bulls to spend their last days without torment. She was known too to get off a car to try to stop the wasteful flow of water from roadside taps carelessly used and badly maintained.

At the time of her death Ammi was President of the International Children’s Village, Rambukkana for which she had great plans.

Always strong willed, she never let her illness get the better of her. She passed away peacefully listening to the chanting of pirith by Bhikkhus from a temple in the neighbourhood.

Ammi taught us many lessons in life, the foremost of which were simplicity, kindness and service to others. She was indeed a remarkable lady.

Ammi, may your journey through Sansara continue to be rewarding and may you finally attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

Anula Wijesundere